The Independent UNIVERSITY OF ALUMNI MAGAZINE Summer 2016

Welcome Sir , Vice- 4 Graduation 2016 How we celebrated 6 Shaping Tomorrow’s Doctors The success of our new Medical School 12 Campaign for Free Thinking An update from the Development Office 14 40th Anniversary Weekend Commemorating a landmark year in Buckingham’s history 18 Advertisement Contents Interview: Shaping Tomorrow’s Doctors: Alumni Annual Fund: Sir Anthony’s welcome 4-5 Medical School success 12-13 An update 21 Campaign for Free Thinking: On Friday 4th November we will be Graduation 2016: Interview: An update from the hosting a dinner and dance, at Full report Colleen Carter Development Office 20 The Dorchester Hotel in London. 6-7 14-15 Alumni Profile: Update: Obituary: This will be a fabulous event to Dinner Justin Codrai Estates Department Professor Mike Cawthorne celebrate the 40th anniversary 8-9 16 22 at since the first intake of students Alumni Profile: Kicking the Bar: Announcements: &The Dorchester at Buckingham. Nancy Zulu 10 Book launch 17 Marriages, Births and Obituaries 23 Alumni Profile: 40th Anniversary Weekend: Dance www.buckingham.ac.uk Stewart Andrews Photo update 11 18 @UniOfBuckingham | UniBuckingham

As well as alumni, The Chancellor, Lady and Chris Hollis (PEL 1979, Director of If you wish to get a group of former classmates Keswick will be attending, plus current Financial Communications LVMH). The together to buy a table, you can then and former University staff. The Vice- cost of a ticket is £150 and includes be sure of sitting with friends. A table of Chancellor, Sir Anthony Seldon will be reception drinks and a four course dinner 10 tickets costs £1,500. If you would like speaking, as will The Rt Hon in the most sumptuous surroundings, us to try and get in touch with someone MP (The Speaker, The House of Commons) followed by dancing to party band The MIX. you would like to see there, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

During the evening the award for the ‘Distinguished Alumnus of the Year’ will be presented. If you have anyone in mind for this accolade please don’t forget to nominate them before 20th October. The details can be found at www.buckingham.ac.uk/alumni-and-giving/distinguished-alumnus-awards

We are all very much looking forward to this event, the ballroom is gorgeous and the food is very tasty! Please don’t wait too long to sign up. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/event/40th-anniversary-dinner-and-dance/

2 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 3 alumni from overseas. His tour continues until The Vice-Chancellor said: March 2017 and he will be travelling to India, Kenya, and Nigeria, to name a few. “The festival will appeal not only to academic “ I have enjoyed staff but also to students, administrators and meeting Buckingham managers in the HE and alumni and hearing FE sector and teachers/ advisers in secondary from them in person schools who are looking for how their time at new insights into how the sector is changing and what university has shaped it might look like, well into their futures. It has the future”. There are plans to build a new Vinson been a delight meeting Centre for Liberal Economics at the heart of alumni in Hong Kong, Buckingham’s campus, with a large gateway and a clock tower. Sir Anthony said that this Malaysia, America, will remind people that the idea of liberal thinking was central to the foundation of the Canada and others. University 40 years ago. The University also hopes to develop its links in the capital city, I am looking forward with a new London Centre for postgraduate and undergraduate courses. to meeting many more Finally, the Vice-Chancellor and the entire alumni on my tour”. cohort would like to offer their thanks and best wishes to one of our most dedicated Sir Anthony Sir Anthony Seldon members of staff, who has retired after 39 years of unbroken service at the University: For a full list of the countries that Colleen Carter. As many of you know, Colleen Sir Anthony will be visiting, please see the has been the Personal Assistant to all but Welcome University of Buckingham’s website. one of the Vice-Chancellors, organising As well as this, we hosted our inaugural busy schedules and much more in the most going to print, Sir Anthony opened the a medieval trial, the annual duck race and a Welcome to this special 40th Festival of Higher Education in early discreet, kind and professional way. Buckingham Literary Festival, met the first magical performance of A Midsummer Night’s Anniversary edition of the September. The result of the European female British Consul General in New York Dream, directed by Professor Alistair Alcock, Sir Anthony said, referendum in June has made it more vital University of Buckingham’s and stood on his head during his keynote at sunset in the Vice-Chancellor’s riverside “Everyone here at than ever that there is a sense of community Independent magazine. speech at the IPEN Festival in Dallas in front garden. Many thanks go to Bev Kelly and her between institutions of higher education in Buckingham is incredibly of an amused but appreciative audience! team, who organised the entire weekend and The past 12 months have been especially this time of uncertainty. grateful to Colleen, she worked tirelessly to ensure it ran smoothly. busy and full of change. It is a year since The Vice-Chancellor said it took no time At this event there were a range of different has been a very positive political historian Sir Anthony Seldon at all for the University to feel like home: The University of Buckingham prides itself speakers and panels, including: Higher influence. We will miss was appointed as the University’s sixth “The students are great, the teachers on its sense of community and as you are Education Minister Jo Johnson, Shadow HE Principal/Vice-Chancellor. As well as are delightful, and I love the town; it is aware the Alumni Department hosts annual her and hope she visits Minister Gordon Marsden, Philosopher and talking at Open Days, hosting many events amazing. I think the University is very lucky events that provide previous students with often. Have a wonderful Visiting Lecturer Sir , Chief on campus and visiting alumni in many to be in the town and I also think the town the opportunity to meet in person with their Executive of UCAS Mary Curnock Cook and retirement, Colleen”. different countries, Sir Anthony has written is very lucky to have the University”. cohort and members of staff. In November Director of HEPI Nick Hillman. By Meg Pettit dozens of articles and appeared on key this year there will be a dinner-dance event at The 40th anniversary celebrations in television and radio shows, including BBC’s The Dorchester in London. If you are free on mid-July were a joyful occasion and staff, Desert Island Discs in January, to continue Friday 4th, please do come along to celebrate students, alumni and the town’s residents to raise the profile of the University. the 40th anniversary – contact details for this came together to recognise and celebrate event can be found on page 2. As well as this, Sir Anthony works exceptionally hard; the University’s achievements. There was a the Vice-Chancellor is currently on a world earlier this year when this magazine was Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a re-enactment of tour, flying to dozens of countries to meet

4 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 5 Paul Donnelly, (below) BSc Psychology, The British Psychology Society Prize, The Friends of the University of Buckingham Prize for special achievement at Part 2, and The Horlogerie Kandahar Prize for outstanding achievement:

Graduation 2016 Alexander Katznelson, (below) LLB Law, “I thoroughly enjoyed the “Graduation is the day that every student works towards. The Sweet and Maxwell Law Prize for the graduation ceremony. Best Performance in the Final Examinations The emphasis for this year’s recipient. Westmoreland is an employee of Not only was it a great So when it came it was slow, and The Roderick Wu Prize for the Best graduation was one of Amesbury Council and works to promote the archaeology and history of the town, giving opportunity to catch up yet over too quickly and Performance in Law of Evidence: celebration: Sir Anthony huge support to our archaeology lecturer with friends and members although joyous marked Seldon stated in his opening David Jacques. of staff, it also provided a the end of a significant speech that he hoped the Entrepreneur Lloyd Dorfman is the Founder meaningful end point to the period of our lives. From the and President of Travelex and was awarded ceremony would be informal degree and a moment to students accepting their Doctor of Science of the University. Dorfman and fun, so family members degrees, to the families and is also the Chairman of the Prince’s Trust and reflect on the past two years could show their full support Prince’s Trust International, as well as a trustee as we move to embrace lecturers supporting those for those collecting their for other charities. future challenges.” students, it was clear that certificates. The Right Honourable the Lord Judge a sense of pride resonated Fabjola Aruci, (below) LLB Law, The Merit Prize received a Degree of Doctor of Laws. Lord In his speech to the graduates Sir Anthony offered for a Good All-round Performance from every angle of the Judge served as a Recorder of the Crown stated,“This is one of the most special days academically and who has also made an Church that day. Pride that Court and was later appointed as a High Court of your life. It is a day that you will remember important contribution to the life of the Judge, Queen’s Bench Division. In 2008 Lord each and every student forever. You are going to graduate from the University (shared) and The Rachel Lawrence Judge was appointed Lord Chief Justice of will carry as they take best university in the world, if not Prize for Mooting and Legal Skills (shared): the universe.” England and Wales and Head of the Judiciary “Graduation was such new steps towards their of England and Wales. Among this years’ honorary graduates a special day for me. future ambitions.” The weekend concluded with the Swan Ball were journalist, broadcaster and author, It was great to go back in the Graduation marquee on Beloff Lawn. Jeremy Paxman. Paxman is also the former to Buckingham, be Newsnight anchorman and currently the Attendees enjoyed performances from dance “Graduation was a wonderful University Challenge presenter. Paxman group Urban Strides, Bernie Marsden, DJ Jam surrounded by my family experience. It was great to is renowned for his interviewing style, Jam and Lemar. Making it to the ‘Survivors’ and friends and celebrate be able to commemorate Photo’ is always the aim! famously subjecting former Tory leader everything we had achieved this milestone with our Michael Howard to the same question Helen Rabot, (right) BSc Business and together over the past close friends and family continually in 1997 in an effort to secure Management, winner of the G-Volution Prize a direct answer. Fred Westmoreland for Academic Distinction: two years.” at our side! was this year’s Honorary Master of Arts By Meg Pettit

6 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 7 Some years later, after leaving the city, I set If there is a common thread throughout up a business called ‘Codrai Photographs’. my working life it is that the training I had The foundation of the business was my at the University to become a lawyer has father’s collection of photographs amassed served me well – I have always acted as my while he was working as an oil company own lawyer with the contracts I have had to executive. I published two books that were sign and the many negotiations in which I unfinished when he died to add to the six have been involved. that had previously been published, and The University also continues to play a part based the business around licensing his in my life of internationalism – for example, photographs to the UAE Government the Executive Director of the National and others who were taking a keen Archives, an Emirati, is also a graduate interest in the UAE. of the University of Buckingham! In this, My work led to three exhibitions of his the 40th Anniversary of its opening to photographs in Dubai and three in Abu students, I will always be grateful to the I was able to organise Dhabi. Christian always joined me from University. It is the main reason why both Rome for these events. There were radio my children, Lorna and Ben, are currently the country’s largest and TV interviews, a television programme studying for their degrees at the University devoted solely to us and much media – it has become a family tradition! photographic exhibition coverage. It was fun and we were both happy to be able to enhance our father’s of my father’s work for work and continue his mission to give the changing population a glimpse into the 40th National Day their past. By 2007, I had two children, Lorna and Ben, Celebrations before the and, following the death of my mother ADACH merged with that year, I was approached by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage the Abu Dhabi Tourism (ADACH) to purchase my father’s UAE Alumni Profile - Justin Codrai LLB, 1979 Collection. I knew it was always my father’s and Culture Authority wish that it should end up in the UAE as it recorded a significant part of the UAE’s Once we had completed our ‘A’ Levels, and there was a sense of excitement about I live and work in Abu Dhabi history and was its natural home. The Christian started reading Arabic at SOAS being at the start of something with (TCA Abu Dhabi). in the United Arab Emirates negotiations took a further three years and in London. Wondering where to go to huge potential. the Collection arrived in Abu Dhabi in July (UAE) and sat for my Law University and what course to read, I took Our days at the University were happy 2010. The deal was that I was to come with degree at the University some time off in Europe and Beirut, where times, although a little chaotic, partly of the Collection, being the only member of my family was living at the time. In the most of Buckingham having our own making and partly because the the family left who knew all about it, and extraordinary turn of events, Christian started my course in 1977 curriculum was evolving as the terms to work for the Authority as its Curator of and I had read the news about a new, passed. Neither of us ended up with Photographic Collections. I was able to – the second year after the independent University about to open particularly good Licences in Law (as they organise the country’s largest photographic opening of the University. its doors – we both, quite separately, were then), but our decision to go to the exhibition of my father’s work for the decided to apply. I was conceived in what is now the UAE to University was not something that either 40th National Day Celebrations before the Christian was accepted into the first intake parents who were among very few expats of us ever regretted. It had been fun as ADACH merged with the Abu Dhabi Tourism in February 1976 and I in 1977. We both living in the region. My father was the local well as educational – in every sense! and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). representative for the oil company that decided to read Law. In 1976 I spent a lot Christian went on to qualify as a barrister In 2013, I made the decision to leave TCA had signed, among others, the onshore oil of time at Buckingham with Christian, Abu Dhabi. I was fortunate in having a and I as a solicitor. Christian found concession with Abu Dhabi in 1939. and I got to know most of the 60 or so friend who was the Cultural Advisor to the Chambers in London. He then became My parents briefly moved to Qatar and then students and the staff. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who valued Legal Counsel for the International Fund on to Damascus where I was due to be born. With hindsight, the thing that appealed to my knowledge of the country’s history for Agricultural Development in Rome, However, the Suez crisis in 1956 intervened both Christian and I was the shortness of and photographic collections. I joined the where he lived for some 22 years before and my mother and brother Christian were the course, the obvious internationalism of National Archives of the UAE and I continue sent back to the UK, where I was born. the new University and the whole premise sadly passing away in 2006. to work there. I like to think I am helping A few months later, the storm over Suez upon which it had been built. It was a risk – I joined a firm of solicitors in London and rose them build up their country’s historical having blown over, we all returned but then both of us were already in the risk to become a Partner, conducting some massive records, both for posterity and for the to Damascus. business, having lived where we lived, litigation on both sides of the Atlantic. education of generations to come.

8 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 9 I graduated in 1989 with a degree in Accounting and Financial Management, and initially followed a traditional route for my career. I achieved CIMA fellowship in 1994 and pursued jobs in accounting and finance in various firms, before settling into technical software and becoming Group Financial Controller of NAG Limited in Oxford. NAG is world-renowned for its mathematical software. In 2003 I became the Interim CEO of VSNi, a joint venture set up by NAG and BBSRC to exploit statistical software. The Company had faced difficulties as a result of trading conditions and merging the joint venture, but I brokered a management buy-in. By steering the turnaround of the business with industry leading growth, it has remained profitable and debt-free ever since. It is now cited as the most successful spin-out from BBSRC. VSNi now works with researchers and scientists all over the world, and has offices in Beijing and Bangkok as well as key collaborators in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and across Europe. VSNi are world leaders in statistical genetics, producing and developing Genstat and ASReml. The software is used by biological science researchers, ecologists and Alumni Profile - Nancy Zulu (LLB 2006, LLM 2007, PhD 2016) conservationists throughout the world. Why did I choose Buckingham? People are central to the Buckingham story. Experts in their fields and truly committed to I am also the Business Manager of the IBP https://www.integratedbreeding.net/8/ My reason was simple. People who embody the values and ethos of harnessing the potential of students from day the University. I have been privileged to be one, and beyond. about-us/governance-management - a Bill A friend recommended and Melinda Gates Foundation initiative largely impacted and influenced by them over the Working for the University, first in the aimed at improving small holder farmers in the University to me. course of the years that I have been at the Marketing Department/Central Admissions University, first as a student and then as a Africa. My remit is to establish a sustainable This word-of- mouth recommendation is and now in the School of Humanities and in member of staff. The first person I met was solution, for public good and to keep the the Buckingham way. I think it is true to say the Alumni Office, I have met and worked Professor Alistair Alcock. I was introduced programme running post-funding in 2019. that when you have had a good experience, with the most exemplary individuals. People to him by a lovely couple whose bed and The University of Buckingham provided a you can’t help but share it with those closest who go the extra mile. breakfast I stayed in on first arriving in focused and relevant qualification for me to to you. I have met parents who studied at So, how do I sum up my time at Buckingham Buckingham, prior to my registration at the develop my career. By going to university as Buckingham and whose children are now on this momentous occasion of its 40th (Accounting and University. I was touched by his willingness a mature student I was clear on what career studying here. Others, like me, have come via anniversary? The only words I can find are, Alumni Profile - Stewart Andrews Financial Management, 1989) to meet me and to offer me an informal path I wanted, and how best to achieve friends, and have in turn, recommended the “thank you”. Thank you to all the people, staff, introduction to the University. This openness, my goals. Earning a degree gave me the Realising the importance of education I That said VSNi still provide software free to University to friends and family. In common, colleagues, students and alumni who have this ‘open door policy,’ is of course a central confidence to push forward with my ideals, spear-headed a programme that provides over 4,000 scientists, mostly based in Africa, we share a sense of knowing that Buckingham made and continue to make this a worthwhile feature of Buckingham and left a lasting and the vocational nature of the degree meant some of VSNi’s software free to universities but across the developing world. offers a supportive environment where one journey. I am sure many alumni will share impression on a new student arriving at I was well able to understand and develop across the world, a programme that has run for can thrive. There is a strong sense of family my sentiment when they think of their own More information is available University for the first time. I went on to financial and business plans to move VSNi from over 10 years. Sadly, lack of external funding here and as the University celebrates its 40th Buckingham experience. at www.vsni.co.uk meet the most amazing academics, firstly its early position of financial weakness to an and support meant this initiative became too anniversary what has emerged is a close-knit in the Law School and latterly in the School international, profitable business. costly for VSNi to continue in all its forms. network that I am proud to be a part of. of Humanities.

10 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 11 We are planning to have a new We are now in our third building on the river bank admissions cycle. We are which would be at the centre of a modern medical hub that hoping to recruit a new would offer new and exciting programmes and research cohort of 85 students for across a range of medicine- related fields that are in great next January. We are need in our health systems. We hope that our alumni will also working closely with participate actively in the a number of hospitals continued expansion of our Medical School. that will be offering By Professor John Clapham clinical placements to our future students.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Doctors It was clear, in the early Britain. Professionalism, patient safety and related to my current health problems”, one days of setting up a Medical welfare, empathy and duty of care are at the patient gave us as feedback. This is extremely core of our programme, in other words to encouraging, and fits nicely with the type of School at Buckingham, produce great doctors. Every single aspect of doctor that we are trying to train. that the project would our course is anchored around these, and we Our first cohort of students joined us in gain valuable momentum are confident that the breed of doctor that January of 2015. These students will now be if our alumni shared our we are training will stand out and shape the moving into Phase 2 of their course early next medical landscape of tomorrow. vision of an innovative and year. We will ensure that they will face this The feedback that we have obtained from transition with a high degree of confidence progressive Medical School patients who have interacted with our because of the amount of clinical exposure

built on the university’s students so far has been overwhelmingly they will have been exposed to from early in Professor John Clapham ethos of student first now positive. As part of our course, each one of their course. They will be trained in clinical combined with a patient- our students is assigned a patient with a long- and consultations skills by our excellent term, or chronic, condition very early on in General Practioners and at centric approach. They did, the course in a programme called Narrative University Hospital on a weekly basis, and by and the goodwill that we Medicine. They follow these patients over a the time they go through rotations in hospital have received from them all period of 18 months, and learn about all that wards in Phase 2, they would have acquired up to now has contributed in is involved in the day-to-day management technical skills such as clinical examinations no small way to the success of a medical condition. They have now for many procedures, cognitive skills such witnessed what it means for an 80-year old as clinical reasoning and decision making, of our Medical School. patient to travel to a hospital 20 miles away and vital consultation skills such as how to The underlying philosophy of our Medical from home for a brief appointment, or what communicate with patients. School is its main strength. We decided, in the waiting times are for patients who need They will also have learnt to work within a the very early days of implementing our to order medication off a repeat prescription. team, which is an integral part of medical curriculum, that we had to train doctors who “A good rapport was quickly established practice. The Medical School is growing would go a long way towards rectifying issues with the student. She was easy to talk to and rapidly. We are, at the moment, trying to raise that had been plaguing healthcare in modern very interested in my life history and how it funds for the next stage of our expansion.

12 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 13 The University of Buckingham is launching a campaign to sustain the finest tradition of liberal, open-minded, independent scholarship and teaching at one of the finest small universities in Campaign Sir Christopher Ondaatje has given us the new Vice Chancellor’s residence, a beautiful listed the world. building on Church Street, now renamed Ondaatje hall. Construction work on the Vinson Centre We are proud to be launching the £150 million Campaign for Free Thinking. (below) for the Study of Liberal Economics is due to start in the Autumn. A gift of £1 million by Brian Kingham, Chairman of the Development Board, and great friend to this for Free The Lord Vinson, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Centre for Policy Studies, has made the university, has made it possible to imagine the next incarnation of the University and to recruit a largest ever gift received by the university of £5.5 million. campaign team and set up a permanent development office. Thinking ‘ Our vision for the next ten years is ambitious, Fundraising for the University but it is possible. It will take collective courage and effort. Together let’s build on a great forty- The Plan: The University will more than double in size to year tradition to ensure that the University of at least 5,000 students: large enough to make a mark on the world, but not so great that the Buckingham is astonishing, extraordinary and sense of intimacy and community is lost. refreshingly original for its fiftieth anniversary There are four areas to the far-reaching and ambitious campaign and beyond. Please consider making a gift, • Fiftieth Fund • Extraordinary people – bursaries, however large or small to the Campaign for scholarships, fellowships © HUDSPITH ARCHITECTS’ • Excellent facilities Sir Anthony Seldon – Vice-Chancellor Free Thinking.’ • Inspiring buildings and spaces At the time of writing, we await news Giving is a simple expression of belonging. Please just drop us a line and we will send you of a £3m bid to locate a new centre for The university already belongs to its alumni. a copy of the commemorative campaign entrepreneurship in the same building. This It doesn’t matter whether your gift is for £10 brochure, Past, Present, Future. Or contact would bring together free market theory and per month towards the Buckingham Bursaries us to discuss any aspect of the campaign practice under the same roof. or for £20 million to fund a new signature 50th Anniversary: Extraordinary people: Inspiring buildings and your gift. The Linbury Trust, one of the Sainsbury building. We have dreamed about what can happen We should like to support the brightest and spaces: Email: [email protected] Family Charities and a long-term supporter of By Alistair Lomax, between now and our fiftieth birthday in and most deserving students from every Tel. +44 (0)1280 814080 Better facilities are needed to support the Buckingham, is funding student bursaries on Director of Development 2026. At the start of any such campaign, the background. People are at the heart of expansion of numbers, to accommodate the new PPE course (Philosophy, Politics and most helpful gifts are unrestricted. We have our charitable mission, with at least 10% of the most up-to-date modes of learning and Economics). set up a ‘Fiftieth Fund’ to prime new initiatives students receiving a degree-level interaction, and to promote the full breadth and will go wherever the need education for free. of activity in a 21st century university. is greatest.

The first gifts: So far, around £9m has been committed. Matthew Proud (Law, 2007), has funded the acquisition of Ford Meadow, a disused, professionally-sized football field, home to the Buckingham Town Football Club for over one hundred years from 1883 to 2011. This 3.5 acre site is ideally located, being just a short walk from the campus. We will at last be able to create sporting facilities on a par with the academic strength of the University.

© HUDSPITH ARCHITECTS’

14 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 15 An Update from the Estates Department

One of the attractions With that said, many of the challenges it by Autumn next year. This has been made of joining The University are the same, with a common need for a possible by a £2m grant from SEMLEP (South focused strategy on and investment in its East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership). of Buckingham nearly 18 infrastructure to ensure we continue to We are also moving forward with the creation months ago, apart from enhance the student experience. of the Vinson Centre for the study of liberal its principles of providing We have now moved to being more economics, a new three storey building with the finest independent proactive in our ways of working, focusing social, learning and administration space, scholarship and teaching, on preventative maintenance as opposed along with a 190 seat lecture theatre. to reactive, investing in existing buildings, From left to right: ‘Sir Melvyn Bragg, Wynn Wheldon and Sir David Attenborough’ was knowing that I would In addition, we are in the process of facilities and equipment to ensure we get developing the old VC’s residence Willowbank become responsible for best value from what we have. Significant into teaching space, as well as looking at Huw Wheldon: A Filial Biography one of the most attractive finance has been provided to improve the by Wynn Wheldon improvements to the student areas and Kicking the Bar London: Unbound, 2016 and beautiful campuses in current facilities for both students and staff. Refectory in Tanlaw Mill. Recent major investment has included the the UK. Despite its size, its Other future projects include the creation My father, broadcaster Huw Professor Jane Ridley inveigled me into refurbishment of Ondaatje Hall as a learning of excellent sporting facilities on the Ford writing about my father, rather than about setting and historic buildings facility as well as the VC’s residence; the Wheldon, would have been Meadow site, new student accommodation the great Jewish pugilist Daniel Mendoza, and are on a par with many of creation of teaching space in the Chandos a hundred this year (2016). on the Chandos Road car park; and of course I passed with flying colours. Frances Wilson Road Building for the Medical School; and its contemporaries and I the creation of new academic facilities and He died in 1986. and Frances Spalding, my examiners, wanted the recent refurbishment and opening of a to give me a Distinction, but such baubles are welcomed the challenge of accommodation on the old industrial site off In 2006 I started a Biography Master’s degree Centre for Humanities Research in Gower not to Buckingham’s taste. maintaining and improving Tingewick Road. under the tutelage of Professor Jane Ridley. Street, London. on what has been done With many other visions and ideas being part I learned about every conceivable way of They thought it publishable, though two And what of the future? In line with the of the University’s strategy for the future, writing about people. How Casanova wrote agents told me it lacked the grit in the oyster. previously. vision to expand the University, there are these are exciting times at Buckingham and about himself. How Edmund Gosse wrote It was true. There are no revelations. I let it lie. several major projects planned, including the Having come from Oxford Brookes University, the Estates Team will continue to play an about his father. How Andrew Motion wrote But David Attenborough kept on asking after creation of a new Academic Centre at Milton where I was Estate Director and responsible important role in future plans about Philip Larkin. In truth it was more like a it, and eventually I took a plumped up version Keynes to support our medical students to the subscription publisher Unbound, who for three campuses educating over 20,000 and developments. very high grade book club than an academic students, I was also secretly looking forward during their placements at the Hospital. course; more, I would argue, what a university thought well enough of it to take me on. By Colin Stocker, Estates Bursar to an estate which was more manageable Construction of this £8.5m project is due to education should be than most modern day And here it is. in size and more personable in its working. start soon, with the first students occupying versions tend towards. By Wynn Wheldon - (MA Biography, 2009)

16 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 17 Advertisement

The weekend event, held on We were blessed with lovely weather on both 16/17 July, was open to all. days. Here you can see photos of some of the events that took place, including sports Over 80 University alumni visited and and the Duck Race. It was a truly wonderful mixed with staff, students and members event to commemorate a landmark year in of the public. Buckingham’s history. Anniversary40th Weekend

We will be celebrating the University of Buckingham’s 40th Anniversary in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday, November 18, 2016, with an evening of fine dining, networking and entertainment The dinner will be a wonderful opportunity for you to reunite with old friends and members of the alumni, as we celebrate the University’s recent achievements and unveiI our vision for the University’s future. The Vice-Chancellor Sir Anthony Seldon will be present and will share his vision for the University and celebrate our recent successes and achievements with members of the alumni in Nigeria. It would be a pleasure to see you at the dinner so for further detaiIs on the event, particularly the early bird booking, visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ubaanigeria Instagram: @ubaa.nigeria, #bucks@401agos EmaiI: [email protected]

18 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 19 An Interview with Colleen Carter Colleen Carter first joined “Good morning, can I help?” the University College at Alan replied proudly, “I’m Buckingham in 1977 and has here to collect the Royal been personal assistant to six Charter for the University of the seven Vice-Chancellors of Buckingham.” – in effect changing jobs six This clerk looked at him times while staying at the and said, “Have you got any same desk. She retired from identification?” Alan showed the University at the end of him his American Express July this year. Meg Pettit from card, to which the clerk the Alumni Department had replied “That’ll do nicely, Sir!” a chat with her shortly The clerk then just handed before she left. over the in a nondescript package. How much has the When Alan arrived back University changed in Buckingham, he said since you first started “I can’t believe it – they didn’t Who would you invite to even give me a cup of tea! your dream dinner party? working here? This is it, our Royal Charter, just in a box.” Nelson Mandela, David Attenborough, Very much so. Originally there was just one Tim Peake, David Bowie, Prince Harry, site - Hunter Street - and then we acquired Francesco da Mosto, Audrey Hepburn, the Franciscan building, followed by Alan Peacock, who was also a musician, Adele (as I hope she would duet with The Alumni Annual Fund Chandos Road, and more recently Prebend composed a piece of music “The Chancellor’s David Bowie), Malala Yousafzai, and finally, The Alumni Annual Fund graduates. We would like to say thank you to House and the Inov8 site. There were only March” which is played at our annual Victoria Wood and Julie Walters, who 65 students in the first cohort and as we Graduation ceremonies. was set up with the aim of everyone who has supported the AAF. The were an amazing comedy partnership. University is also grateful for the support it were so small, staff and students all knew My dream dinner party would ideally be raising money from University receives from parents and family members of one another. There was no on-campus What are your held in the olive groves on the outskirts of alumni to fund small projects its current students and alumni. accommodation – the students lived in Caltabellotta, Sicily (where else?!!) around campus to enhance houses on Page Hill or Moreton Road. plans for retirement? and improve the lives of our What is one of your I’m looking forward to a relaxing summer, current students. The AAF with a complete change of routine. In the is of enormous importance The mini bus is used for other trips and best memories of the longer term I’d like to do some volunteering, possibly at a drop-in centre, working with the to the University and will outings as well as sports, and has already massively benefitted students and staff. University? homeless. But something far removed from enable us to continue our the office environment, desks and computers. I think it has to be the award of the Royal programme of expansion In the past year, the AAF has paid for two Secondly, the AAF recently paid for a small projects at the University. Firstly, the re- vamp of the Memorial Garden on Charter in 1983. Alan Peacock was Vice- and our constant efforts fund paid half of the cost of a new mini bus for the Hunter Street Campus. Chancellor at the time, and he was always to improve the students’ the sports department. Stefan Ridley (Sports The original Memorial Garden was the first keen to recount the events of the day he experience. Officer) and Callum Roberts (Assistant Sports project funded by the Alumni Annual Fund, travelled down to London to receive the Officer) are thrilled with the new vehicle, and it has now been refurbished to its former Royal Charter. Alan was expecting some sort We actively work to keep close links with and on behalf of the Student Union and all glory. It is looking beautiful, and is a lovely of ceremony to mark the occasion; however, our alumni and we appreciate the personal current students, wish to thank everyone who place for students to sit and enjoy when he arrived at the Home Office, contacts we maintain with so many of our donated to the Alumni Annual Fund. our picturesque campus. the clerk greeted him with:

20 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 21 Announcements Marriages, Births and Obituaries Mike Cawthorne By Emeritus Professor Jon Arch It is with sorrow that we must announce the death of two of our Honorary Graduates, and three of Professor Mike Cawthorne, our alumni this year. Director of the Buckingham Honorary Graduate of The University of Honorary Graduate of The University of Adnan Kassi (LLB, 2005) sadly died on Institute for Metabolic Buckingham, Lord Neill of Bladen, Buckingham, Lord Leach of Fairford, passed 8 August 2016. Research (Clore Laboratory) died on 28 May 2016. away on 12 June 2016. and Dean of Science and Postgraduate Medicine, died following a heart attack on 21 July 2015. During his 21 years at the University of Buckingham Mike had held various other senior positions, including Director of Marketing and Acting Deputy Vice- A full obituary is available at : A full obituary is available at The Telegraph: His full obituary can be seen here: Chancellor. But many will remember www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/06/ www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/06/13/ https://extranet.buckingham.ac.uk/alumnet/ him best as Head of the Medical School, lord-neill-of-bladen-obituary lord-leach-of-fairford--obituary/ news-kassi.aspx a title he earned by his pivotal role in Justice Dato’ V. T. Singham (LLB, 1987) sadly passed Prince Albert Bonamy (LLB, 2002) passed away in driving forward the vision of former Vice- away on 25 March 2016. Please see The Malaysian June 2016 at the age of 78. His full obituary can Chancellor Professor and Bar website for his full obituary be seen here: http://bit.ly/29MUuOz Dean of Medicine Professor to http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/in_memoriam/ create first the postgraduate and then the obituary_%7C_dato_vt_singham_28_june_1948_ undergraduate Medical School. to_25_mar_2016.html To remember Mike solely by his achievements at the University would be a disservice, however. Born on the 9th Marie Charlotte Reetze (Master of Business George Jones (LLB, August 1941 in Wath, South Yorkshire, Mike We have had a number of Administration, 2012) married Bastian Frisch 2005) and his wife attended Rotherham Grammar School. alumni babies this year, on 17 June 2016, in Hamburg, Germany. Hannah welcomed He read Chemistry and Biochemistry at and a wedding! their daughter, Liverpool University and in 1964 began his Djamila Abo-Hatab (Psychology with English Autumn Kate first job at the pharmaceutical company Language Studies, 2001) and Giuseppe Margaret Jones, E R Squibb in Liverpool. In 1966 he moved Gennaro welcomed their daughter Amina earlier this year. to Vitamins Ltd in Surrey, which was taken on 11 July 2016. Amina is their first child. She over by Beecham Pharmaceuticals in 1968. was born in Cologne, Germany, and weighed Tom Durbin (LLM, 2008) and Jill St George There he led a team seeking to discover drugs 3300 grams. (LLB, 2008) would like to announce the birth for the treatment of obesity. Typically of Mike, of their son. Henry Durbin was born at 08:41 he did not try to discover another drug that discovery. Initially highly successful, Avandia In consequence, the Laboratory developed on 26 May at Bayview Hospital in Barbados. reduced food intake, but rather a new class of was claimed to be linked to an increased risk its international reputation in obesity and He weighed 8lbs 10oz. drug that increased metabolic rate. of heart attacks. Mike and others disputed diabetes research. this link, but in 2010 it was withdrawn from Mike was chairman of the Association Mike had two sons, David and Mark, from the European market. It remained available for the Study of Obesity (the UK society his first marriage. Both his first wife Ray, and in the US, however, and in 2013, following a being the first), later becoming Founding his second wife Monique, who supported reevaluation of the evidence, all restrictions Secretary and Vice-President of the Mike in the Clore Laboratory, died. In later in the US were lifted. International Association for the Study years Mike found happiness again with of Obesity. It was in the field of type 2 It was through his work on diabetes Liz Riseborough. diabetes, however, that Mike achieved that Mike came to Buckingham, having Mike was a passionate, his greatest scientific success. He led the collaborated with Professor Anne entrepreneurial scientist. Beecham team that in 1987 discovered the Beloff-Chain, who had founded the drug rosiglitazone (Avandia), one of the Clore Laboratory. Mike won numerous He died ‘in harness,’ first of a new class of drug. For this in 2001, grants, especially from pharmaceutical as was his wish. Mike and his team were given a Society companies, as well as organising high-level of Medicines Research award for drug international conferences at Buckingham.

22 The Independent | Summer 2016 The Independent | Summer 2016 23 Please take a look at the online version of the ‘Past, Present and Future’ Booklet, to see more about the University’s plans for development. www.buckingham.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Campaign-for-Free-Thinking.pdf